E m 




6 



/ 



A riEnORIAL 



of the 



PoIish=American Organizations 



OF THE UNITED STATES 



in reference to the proposed 



Lodge Immigration Bill, 



now pending in the American House of Representatives. 



CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 

1898. 






9S% 

Je. 16 ort 



The persistent and studied efforts of reckless 
and sensational writers and agitators to belittle and 
traduce tlie character of American citizens, of Polish 
descent and nativity, has lead to the formation of a 
committee, consisting of representatives of all the 
large Polish -American organizations throughout the 
United States, for the purpose of removing in a 
measure the erroneous impiVssion, w^hicli prevails in 
certain quarters, in regard to th^- Polish people. While 
this agititation was confined to articles of sensational 
writers and wild rantings of irresponsible dem- 
agogues, it was deemed the part of wisdom to treat 
the movement with dignified silence. The statements 
of certain individuals, who view the subject with eyes 
which are jaundiced with prejudice, that the Slav- 
onic race is to^tally depraved and is without a single 
redeeming feature, are too absurd to merit a reply. 

It remained however for the honorable senator 
from Massachusetts to dignify these gross misrepres- 
entations with his scholarly and well-known literary 
attainments by including them in his report to the 
Senat • recommending the passage of Senate Bill No. 



— 4— • 
112, commonly known as tlie Lodge Immigration 
Bill. The damage done to the reputation of Polish- 
American citizens by this report is incalculable. 
Were the statements therein contained allowed to 
pass unchallenged, some future historian in his re- 
searches might discover this remarkable document, 
and accepting the figures and pretended facts therein 
cited as true, use it as a basis of his views on the 
effects of immigration in the United States. 

We exceedingly regret that the time at the dis- 
posal of this committee was too limited to collate all 
the necessary data to refute the allegations of the report 
so far as they relate to the Polish people. We how- 
ever respectfully invite the attention of the American 
public to a few facts hurriedly sketched in this 
memorial. 

To fairly adjudge the character of a race it is 
imperatively neccessary to know iheir past history, 
their present condition at home, and their conduct in 
their adopted country. For this reason we have sub- 
divided this memorial into three chapters, in which 
we briefly treat of "Poland during the days of Inde- 
pendence"; "I'oland under the reign of her despoil- 
ers", and ,,The Poles in America", 



I. 

Poland during the Days of Her Independence. 



Ajor many ceaturies Poland was the predominant 
power of Eastern Europe. Situated on the border 
of European civilization, her peculiar mission among 
the family of nations was to repel the repeated 
invasions and depredations of hordes of savage 
Mongols, Tartars, Muscovites and Turks who 
frequently threatened to overrun Europe and destroy 
her institutions. She was justly called the cavalier 
nation of Europe, the bulwark of Christianity and 
modern civilization. From the reign of Boleslas the 
Great (992-1025) to the date of the first partition 
of Poland (1772) her arms alone repelled ninety- 
one Tartar invasions, any one of which, if successful, 
would have disastrously affected, if not jeopard- 
ized, the civilization of Europe. / 
For the cause of Christianity, the brave chival- 
rous king Wladislas Warnenczyk at Warna in 1444 
sacrificed his life, and the great warrior king Stefan 
Batory repelled the savage armies of Ivan the 
Terrible, and drove them back to the wild steppes 
of Russia. To prevent the eventual subjugation of 
Europe to the fanatical rule of the Mussulman John 
III Sobieski met the Turkish forces at Vienna and 



— 6 — 
forever established the supremacy of the Cross over 
the Crescent. 

Although incessantly engaged in warfare she 
never waged a war for offensive purposes or for 
the aggrandizement of her territories. All her wars 
were conducted solely for the defense of her own 
territories and those of her civilized neighbors. The 
spirit of her constitution prohibited the maintenance 
of large standing armies in time of peace. This 
proved to be a great source of weakness to the 
nation, of which her despotic neighbors readily 
availed themselves at the time of first partition of 
Poland. 

Though martial in her character, Poland in no 
small degree cultivated the finer arts of peace. To 
the civilized world she gave the first example of 
religious toleration. "They had" said the great 
publicist, Sir James Mackintosh, in his "An account 
of the Partition of Poland", "another singularity of 
which they might justly have been proud. Soon 
after the Reformation, they had set the first example 
of that true religious liberty, which equally admits 
the members of all sects to the privileges, the 
oftices and dignities of the commonwealth. For 
nearly a century they have afforded a secure 
asylum to those obnoxious sects of Anabaptists 
and Unitarians, whom all other states excluded 
from toleration; and the Hebrew nation, proscribed 
everywhere else, found a second country, with 



protection for their learned and religious establish- 
ments in this hospitable and tolerant land". 

At an early age she took a prominent part in the 
advancement and dissemination of learning in 
Europe. To the astronomical world she gave Coper- 
nicus. The first two center's of learning in central 
Europe were the University of Prague, in Bohemia, 
and the University of Cracow in Poland. As early as 
the fifteenth century we find in the Polish litera- 
ture such names as that of Jan Dlugosz (Longinus), 
the famous historian, and while, little later the 
names of Jan Kochanowski (1503-1584), the prince 
of Polish poets and Casimir Sarbiewski (Sarbievius) 
the Polish Petrarch, stand pre-eminent among their 
contemporaries. In the sister Slavonic nation, 
Bohemia, John Komensky, (Comenius) won fame 
as one of the earliest reformers of educational 
methods. 

The government of Poland was republican in 
form. Its fundamental idea and object was to secure 
to the Polish people the greatest possible individual 
liberty. Absolute slavery was never recognized. In 
1347, in the historic statutes of Wislica, measures 
were adopted for the betterment of the condition 
of the peasantry. In 1413, by humane means alone, 
without the slightest bloodshed, the Polish people 
Converted to Christianity the powerful pagan nation 
of Lithuania numbering over two millions inhabit- 
aats. A union was effected between these two great 
ations which subsequently in 1569 became indis- 



soluble and was based upon the theory, to use the 
quaint language of the historic pact, of "free with 
free and equals with equals." 

The Polish kings were elected by the repre- 
sentative deliberative assemblies of the nation, the 
diet und senate. Their powers were limited. The 
power of enacting laws, levying taxation and de- 
claring war was vested solely in the diet. The main 
defect of the constitution was the provision which 
invited foreign intrigue, corruption and intervention 
into the land by permitting foreign princes to com- 
pete for the crown of Poland. Another sad blunder 
was the rule which re([uired an absolute unanimity 
in passage of all laws. A single expression of 
dissent by any member of the diet was sufficient to 
prevent the enactment of any proposed measure. 
This anamolous power was caled the liberiim veto. 
In the hands of an obstinate or corrupted delegate it 
proved a dangerous weapon. However the evils 
which resulted from these defects of government 
were of slow and gradual growth. 

In the middle of the last century they 
reduced the country to a most deplorable condition. 
Foreign troops traversed and ravaged the fair 
fields of Poland with impunity. Through the 
machination, intrigues and bribes of neighboring 
despotic powers, a limited number of venal and 
treacherous deputies succeeded in preventing all 
legislative action. 

Such was the unhappy condition of Polan 



— 9.— 
ill 1772, when in pursuance of a pre-concerted 
arrangement, without the slightest pretext of right, 
without the formality of declaring war, in open vio- 
lation of the laws of God and man, Russia, Prussia and 
Austria marched their troops into Poland, parceled off 
among themselves large portions of her dominions 
and then compelled the protesting diet to ratify 
their unparalleled robbery. This was the first par- 
tition of Poland. It was the most flagrant violation 
of the laws of nations recorded in the annals of 
man. To aggravate the enormity of their crime, to 
perpetuate the unfortunate existing stati' of affairs, 
these . unscrupulous despoilers exacted from the 
unwilling diet a pledge that no attempt would be 
made to alter the old impotent constitution. 

At the time of the first partition, the surface of 
Poland exceeded that of France and the number nf 
her inhabitants was estimated at eigliteen millions; 
a population probably exceeding that of the British 
Islands or of the Spanish Peninsula at that date. Of 
these about twelve millions were Roman Catholics, 
three millions were Orthodox Schismatics, one 
million Protestants and the remainder Jews or 
Mussulmen. 

Realizing the great dangers which surrounded 
them and fearino- further ao:o;randizement, bv their 
treacherous neighbors upon their territories and 
liberties, the brave people aroused themselves from 
their letharg}^ buried all their feuds and dissensions 
and proceeded peacefully and harmoniously to 



—10— 
strenghten their goveriiiment . On May 3rd, 1791, 
after four j^ears of careful deliberation the Polish 
diet promulgated a new constitution, which for the 
liberality and wisdom of its provisions compares 
favorably with the Magna Charta of England or our 
own Federal Constitution. In its main features it 
resembles the Constitution of the United States. It 
guaranteed civil and religious liberty to all alike. It 
declared everyone to be equal before the law. It 
greatly ameliorated the condition of the peasantry. 
The crown was made hereditary, while the pernicious 
liberiiin veto was abolished. The government was 
divided into three co-ordinate branches: the execu- 
tive, legislative and judicial. 

It was enthusiastically received by the nation 
and was adopted with singular unaminity. 

"The course of this glorious revolution" says Sir 
James Mackintosh, "was not dishonoured by 
popular tumult, by sanguinary excesses, or by 
political execution. History will one day do justice 
to that illustrious body and hold out to posterityj 
their work as a perfect model of a most arduousj 
reformation". 

In England it was hailed with delight. F02 
declared it to be one of the noblest boons conferred' 
upon man, while Edmund Burke exclaimed: "Man- 
kind must rejoice at the great change which has 
taken place in Poland. It has destroyed anarchy 
and slavery". 

This enthusia.-m, however, was not shared by 



—li- 
the despotic ruler of Russia, She declared it to be the 
work of hot headed Jacobins who had no regard for 
the ancient order of things. Before the constitution 
could be fully put into operation she poured lier vast 
armies into Poland. The perfidious king of Prussia, 
violating solemn treaties which he made previously 
with the diet to protect the constitution, followed her 
ignoble example. Together these despots proceeded 
to destroy this masterpiece of statemanship. 

s/At this critical stage there appeared upon the 
scene a hero, whose spotless character, sterling 
virtues, splendid statemanship and great military 
genius, makes him a worthy pupil of George 
Washington. The heroic struggle of the t'olish 
people under the leadership of Thaddeus Kosciusko 
forms one of the most thrilling and sanguinary 
events in the history of the world. All that lofty 
patriotism, undaunted courage and superb general- 
ship could accomplish was done. Not until they 
were overpowered by overwhelmingly greater num- 
bers and their intrepid leader fell, covered with 
wounds, did l^lie proud Polish spirit yield and was 
tl;e name of Poland erased from the maps of Europe./^ 

"Thus" says Sir James Mackintosh, "fell the 
Polish people, after a wise and virtuous attempt to 
establish liberty and a heroic struggle to defend 
it, by the flagitious wickedness of Russia, by the 
foul treachery of Prussia, by the unprincipled 
accession of Austria, and bv the short-sighted as well 



—12—. 

as mean-spirited acquiescence of all the other 
natimis of Europe." 

/ We will conclacle this chapter with an extract 
from a letter written by the Hon. John P. Altgelcl 
to the secretary of the Kosciusko Monument Asso- 
ciation in 1892: 

"From the day when Miecislas 1, the first king 
of Poland, bent his knee in acknowledgement of 
one Christian God, to the day when the great nation 
was shattered and divided by greedy rivals, the 
history of its every page is eloquent with the 
patriotism, the bravery, the genius, the generosity, 
and the tolerance of its people, and the memory of 
its last, almost superhuman struggle, under the 
heroic Kosciusko will live, as long as men love 
liberty and brave deeds. 

"Your people have now no country. Many are 
paying tribute to the ruler of a kindred and un- 
grateful race. Many give unwilling allegiance to 
alien dynasties. Some have sought the ready 
hospitality of our great Republic, which Kosciusko 
helped make free, but all look forward to the day 
their people, the people who gave to 7uankind a 
Copernicus, a Sobieski, a Chopin, and a Kosciusko, 
shall again be united as one — a free people — free to 
choose their own government, free to make their 
own laws, free to teach their children the tongue 
of their fathers". 

"Your people have my deepest sympathy in the 



.—13-- 
great wrong that has been done to them, but look- 
ing back into history I cannot help but feel 
that your affliction is but a transitory stage to a 
glorious resurrection". 

II. 
Poland under the Rule of her Despoilers. 

jmmediately after the dismemberment of Pol- 
and, the three partitioning powers adopted towards 
their unfortunate subjects, a policy of relentless 
persecution and oppression. Every method, which 
heartless tyranny and blind fanaticism could devise, 
was resorted to in order to crush the national spirit, 
eradicate the native customs and extirpate the Pol- 
ish language. Numerous libraries, art galleries, 
schools and seats of learning, rich with the accum- 
ulation of centuries, were despoiled of their trea- 
sures and closed for the purpose- of keeping the 
Polish people in the lowest state of ignorance and 
preventing them from participating in the progress 
and advancement of the world. Strenuous efforts 
were made, and are still being made, to Russianize 
and Germanize the unhappy compatriots of Sobieski, 
Kosciusko, Pulaski and Chopin. Yet notwithstand- 
ing all the harsh and inhuman means which have 
been employed by these oppressors of Poland, the 
national spirit of her people seems invincible. Al- 



_14— 

though hundreds of thousands of noble minded and 
public spirited men and women have been confined 
in subterranean prisons, transported to Siberia and 
doomed to pass their remaining days in banishment, 
amid harship and poverty, for no other crime than 
that of loving the faith and land of their fathers, and 
although the wearing of the native picturesque 
costumes has been interdicted and the speaking 
of the Polish language has been prohibited and in 
many instances has been made a penal offense, the 
love of the Polish people for their Country, its tra- 
ditions, literature and faith increases as time ad- 
vances. The literature of Poland reached its zenith 
in the present century. 

Recognizing the fact that the Roman Catholic 
religion was the main medium for the preservation 
of the nation's language, traditions, patriotism and 
aspirations and formed the principal barrier against 
the amalgamation of the Polish people with the 
semi-civilized Muscovites and the better educated but 
no less conscienceless Teutons, extraordinary at- 
tempts were madp by the Russian tyrants to destroy 
the Roman Catholic religion in Poland. 

In the treaty of September 18, 1773 the notori- 
ous and licentious Russian Empress Catherine II guar- 
anteed full toleration to her new subjects of Catholic - 
faith. This pledge was received by the people with 
well merited incredulity. They recalled the 
terrible scenes of 1708 when the infamous Empress 
dispatched her Zaporogue Cossacks into Poland. 



—15— . 
"We have', the imperial decree stated, "ordered 
Maximilian Zelezniak, colonel of the Zaporogues, to 
lead his men into Poland, together with the Cossacks 
of the Don, and with the grace of God destroy all 
the Poles who do not want to profess the "orthodox" 
faith. We order that this invasion into Poland d-^- 
stroy forever the Polish name and race". The 
slaughter of two hundred thousand defenseless vic- 
tims, of both sexes and of all ages, proved how faith- 
fully this cruel order was obeyed. 

Sach was the inauspicious begining of the rule 
whose sole purpose was to destroy and obliterate all 
those noble sentiments which God and nature im- 
planted in the bosom of every rational being — the 
love of Country and right to worship his creator in 
accordance with the dictates of his conscience. 

The intolerant policy of religions and political 
persecution was also evidenced immediately after 
the first partition when, of the 1900 Churches of the 
Unites, 1200 were given to Russians and converted 
into Schismatic Churches. The protesting com- 
municants of these houses of worship were arrested, 
persecuted and exiled to Siberia because they refus- 
ed to accept the Empress Catherine as the head of 
their Church. The same policy has been pursued 
without cessation throughout the present century. 
It formed the subject of extensive debates in the 
English parliament of 1830, 32, 34 & 36. It was also 

discussed in the French parliament. But no definite 
action was taken. 



—16— . 

In 1803 when the Polish iiisniTection broke out 
in Russia, Muraview, styled by his own countrymen 
the "Hangman" was appointed Governor of Lithuania. 
Between June 8-th and December 28-th, 1803, this 
executioner ordered eleven priests to be hung or 
shot, and thousands were deported to Siberia. In 
1864 he confiscated 24 churches, in 1865, 26 and in 
1867 — 140 churches. How terrible these scenes were 
the letter of an disinterested eye witness, an English- 
man, G. Mitchell to Lord Russell, demonstrates. 

"Who could imagine" he said, "that the Christ- 
ian governor of a Christian city would order his 
Asiatic hordes of hideous savages to trample under 
their feet a Christian population, an inoffensive 
people, because it had approached the house of God? 
When the Russian troops forcibly entered the church- 
es, the}^ found kneeling women in the first rows 
and behind them were the kneeling men. The wo- 
men were beaten and the men were thrown to the 
floor and trampled under foot. In front of the 
Church of the Bernardines in the Fauborg of Cracow, 
Captain Taraskiewicz was seen lashing with his whip 
the women who were trying to escape from the Cos- 
sacks by fleeing into the Church and lie ordered his 
men to do the same. After these outrages the churches 
were despoiled of every object on which the Russians 
could lay their hands". '•■) 



'■•) The events in Warsaw on October 15-th, 1861. Paris. 1862. 



. —17^ 
Similar scenes have been repeatedly re-enacted 
since that date. Only a few years ago a number of 
peaceable and unarmed citizens of Kroze, in the 
Gubernatorial District of Kovna, were assailed, 
knouted and massacred by a horde of wild Cossacks 
for respectfully asserting their rights to see the im- 
perial decree by which their favorite church was 
closed. To coerce the recalcitrant Uniates into 
adopting the Greek- Catholic faith, thousands and 
thousands of them have been transported into the 
interior of Russia. 

In all civilized communities patriotism is under- 
stood as love of one's native land and zeal for her 
general welfare and safety. In Russia it has a differ- 
ent meaning. There, it means devotion to the "sac- 
red" person of the Czar, — the absolute autocrat in 
all secular and religious matters, and who claims the 
exclusive power to dispose, according to his whim, 
not only of the life, libert}^ and property of his sub- 
jects, but also of their souls. Enlightenment and ab- 
solutism can never thrive together. Despotism can 
only be maintained and preserved by keeping the 
great masses of people in the most abject state of int- 
ellectual, political and physical bondage. The knout 
and sword, not reason, humanity or justice, are the 
weapons by which the monstrous sway of Czarism 
can be sustained. The sentiments, aspirations and 
hopes of the Polish people are so antagonistic to the 
tendencies and spirit of Russian institutions as to be 



—18— , 
irreconcilable. To tlie narrow and intolerant mind 
of the average Russian it is inconceivable that the 
Polish people do not readily become reconciled to 
their lot and renounce the faith, language and trad- 
itons of their fathers and blindly accept, as benefact- 
ors, the tyrants who have persecuted, butchered and 
robbed their fathers and brethern. No means have 
been left untried to bring about this result. Estates 
have been confiscated and givea to Russian favorites 
in order to impoverish the people and make them 
dependant upon the liberality and generosity of their 
persecutors. The purchase of reality by Polish speak- 
ing subjects, for the same reason, was interdicted. 
To retard the growth of Polish literature and to sup- 
press the national sentiment, most rigid decrees were 
promulgated. Thousands of ardent sons and daught- 
ers of Poland were fined, imprisoned and transported 
— sometimes even without the formality of a trial — 
for singing patriotic songs, or expressing the natural 
yearnings of their heart. 

In Wilno in 1803 the following decree was is- 
sued : 

"Whoever in whatsoever kind of public place 
(street, alley, park, restaurant, store etc.) shall in 
any conversation use the Polish language, he or she 
shall for the first offense pay 25 rubles, the second 
50 rubles, the third 150 rubles. Further contumacy 
shall be punished by administrative process and ev- 
entual transportation. Non- acquaintance with any 



. — ly— 

language other than the Polish will not be accepted 
as an excuse". 

This decree is in effect until the present date. 
It was posted jn all public highways and shops. 

To fullyjrealize the monstrous nature of this de- 
cree, we must bear in mind that a husband, wife, 
brother, sister, father or mother on meeting each 
other in a public place could not even inadvertently 
express the natural emotions of their heart in the 
language taught them from the cradle without run- 
ning imminent risk of being overheard by someone 
of the numerous spies, Cossacks and Police officials, 
who swarm the country, and be dragged before some 
servile tool of the government. The Jews, Germans 
and Tartars were allowed to use their native tongue. 
The Poles however were denied this privilege by 
virtue of this gracious decree of the Most Enlight- 
ened Ruler of all Russias and King of Poland — a title, 
which in view of the treatment the Poles have re- 
ceived at his hands sounds ironical, if not sacrilegeous. 

In the limited number of schools which the gov- 
ernment established, only the Russian language is 
taught. All books are coloured so as to imbue the 
children with hatred for the creed, language and 
traditions of their forefathers and instill into their 
minds a love for the Czar. They are taught that the 
Czar is the Kind Father of all ; that he is the only 
lawful law -giver, the fountain head of the real faith 
and the only true and absolute ruler of all the lands 
from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean. Oppression 



—20— . 
begets resistance. Is it to be wondered, that the 
true Polisli parent in his anxiety to prevent the mind 
of his child from being poisoned by such un-European 
Asiatic, ancient and false doctrines, should prefer to 
keep his child at home and let him be content with 
such meager knowledge as he may obtain in the 
home circle or at schools which are clandestinely 
conducted by patriotic clergymen and brave men and 
women? To the tyranny and attempts of the Russian 
government to Russianize Poland is due the large 
number illiterates in that unhappy land. 

It is unnecessary to state that Russian govern- 
ment has always been the inveterate enemy of Po- 
lish literature. Not a single phrase or idea can be 
published in the Polish language — not even a circular 
or advert] sement^without first securing the sanction 
of the censor. Hampered thus, it cannot be expect- 
ed that journalism will ever reach a very high plane, 
as the editor is always laboring under the fear of a 
fine or in danger of having his publication suspended 
or suppressed. An recent incident — not an uncom- 
mon one — fully illustrates the workings of this abom- 
inable system of press censorship. The "Gazeta 
Polska", a periodical in which Henryk Sienkiewicz 
originally published his "Children of the Soil" and 
"Quo Vadis" was suspended for aa indefinite period 
for printing an article which was previously submit- 
ted to the censor and obtained his inzpi-i'ni.atur. We 
do not know who in this case is more worthy of com- 



■ —21— 

miseration; the unfortunate edito?' or the haughty 
Eurasian officials, with their perverted sense of justice. 
Having for its own protection appoiiited a censor, 
upon wliom devolved the duty of scrutinizing every 
word and line submitted to him and to strike out, or 
alter, every sentence which might be offensive to the 
authorities, it would seem logical that the author- 
ities would assume the responsibility for the public- 
ation. However "they do these things differently 
in Piussia". The Censor offends and the editor is 
punished for it. 

Such being the discouragements which at- 
tend the publication cf writings intended for educat- 
ed persons, it may readily be surmised with what 
favor works designed for the laboring classes and 
common people are received. Concessions for the 
publication of popular works are seldom granted. 
Novels and historical works are altered to suit the 
prejudiced views of the censors. The people having 
such glorious past history have not the opportunity 
of becoming acquainted with it. Accurate histories 
are not allowed to be published. Such works as are 
circulated are mangled, garbled and changed by the 
censor to such a degree as to be practically worth- 
less. 

Private circulating libraries are not counten- 
anced by the government. ^ The fevv libraries exist- 
ing, under the auspices of the authorities, are hlled 
with Russian books which the people cannot under- 
stand and do not care to read. This policy of repres- 



22 — ' 

sion has given rise among the people to the cnrious 
custom of secretly smuggling books across the fron- 
tier — not for the purpose of evading the payment of 
duty, but in order to secure works which are un- 
polluted bj^ Russian menials. They prefer to incur the 
danger of paying a fine and suffering imprisonment 
than reading books expurgated and emasculated by 
the censors. 

In the Polish province of Lithuania, a decree 
was recently* issued, prohibiting the printing of Lithu- 
anian books with Koman letters.- All Lithuanian 
books, including prayer-books, must be printed with 
the barbaric Russian type. This strange decree in 
reference to a people who for centuries have been ac- 
customed to the use of Latin types is certainly not 
conducive to the advancement of learning among 
that nation. 

And these two nations, Poland and Lithuania, 
yearn witli all their hearts and souls for more en- 
lightenment. They have used all the means in their 
power to frustrate the plans of Russia, and secure for 
their people education and raise them from the 
slough of obscurity, despondency and ignorance in 
which their oppressor is striving to keep them. Many 
of their children have endured the rack and sutfered 
martyrdom for this cause. Some have left their 
country and crossed the broad Atlantic, not merely 
to earn a livelihood but to enjoy those blessings, int- 
ellectual and political, which this nation, the source 



of inspiration and hope of people of all oppressed 
nations, affords. 

In Prussian Poland the condition of the Polish 
subjects cannot be regarded as having been greatly 
improved. Although compulsory education laws 
were enacted, the Polish language was and still is 
excluded from the schools. The rising generation 
is deprived of the opportunity of becoming acquaint- 
ed with the literature which is of paramount interest 
to them and which reveals such untold treasures as 
that of their native land. The harsh measures for 
Germanization of the Polish provinces adopted by 
the early Prussian statesmen having proven futile, a 
little over a decade ago Prince Bismarck resorted to 
a heroic remedy, by striking a powerful blow at 
their economic condition. Over thirty-five thousand 
Poles were suddenly expelled from their native 
land. Laws were enacted for the purchase of 
large estates, which were to be transferred ex- 
clusively in parcels to German colonists. As late 
as 188G, 100,000,000 marks was appropriated by 
the German (Reichstag for this purpose. During the 
month of February, 1898, the German government 
asked for an additional appropriation of 100,000,000 
marks for the same purpose. 

Under the patronage of the government, soc- 
ieties were formed for the purpose of boycotting 
Polish merchants, traders and manufacturers. In 
the present year (1898) a powerful movement has 
been inaugurated to compell all Polish papers to be 



—24— • 
printed both in the Polish and German languages. 
Thus by forcing them to unnecessarily increases 
their expenses for printing and paper, it is expected 
to place the Polish press at a great disadvantage in 
competing with the German papers and so in a mea- 
sure destroy their utility. 

A mild instance of the petty and grinding offici- 
alism to whicli the Polish subjects of Germany are 
ooiioinually foi'ced to submit has been afforded to us 
in a recent cablegram by tlie well-known American 
author, Poultney Bigelow, the classmate and per- 
sonal friend of the presfMit Emperor of Germany, 
publislied in the Cliica-go Sunda.y Tribune of Feb- 
ruary 6th, 1898. We republish the following ex- 
tract: 

[special cable by rOULTNEY BIGELOW.] 

London. Feb. 5. — [Copyright. 189S. by tlie Press Publishing- 
Company, New Y'ork World.] — The Mazurs. inhabiting' the east- 
ermost section of Gernian\' <h\ the Piissian-Polish frontier, have 
been politiealy intimidated hitherto ))\' the government poliee. 
but now they are oro-anizino- against their old masters. 

The main signifleance of this movement lies in the fact that 
their fio-ht in mainly for rio-ht to their own lano'uao-e. thus creat- 
ing one nn)re obstacle to the Germanization of the Fatherland. 
They' number a trifle more than 100.000 and their name might 
never have been heard but for the Polka Mazurka, whicli this 
people originated. 

To illustrate the petty political intimidation in Prussia: On 
Sunday'. Jan. 30. the peasants of Kalentschin. an insignificant 
village of eastern Prussia, had arranged for a meeting to discuss 
their economic and politic-al condition. One speaker was to use 



—25-- 

Oennan the other Pf)lisli. The Governor of the district issued 
the foHowing letter to the gendarmes of the village: 

"The phice of this political meeting must correspond to the 
legal re([uirements. Thus all doors must be open outward. 
There must be a square yard of space for every three people. 
There must also be abundant water supply on the spot in case of 
fire. Perhaps yon can influence the landlord to the extent of 
making him refuse to hire his hall for this purpose." 

The government hoped by insisting upon recjuirements 
suitable to a big city to frustrate the gathering of a handful of 
poor peasants in one room of a country taveren. Fortunately the 
meeting was held, but is a typical case of that form of officialism 
which makes Prussian rule disliked in spite of its many virtues. 

In this connection it may not be uninteresting 
to know tliat all the Mazurs are Protestants. 

The attitude of the Austrian government towards 
its Slavonic subjects is not much better. The same 
policy of repression is continually pursued. , The 
recent riotous demonstrations in the Austrian par- 
liament against the cabinet of the late prime minister 
Badeni for making- the Slavonic lanouage in certain 
Slavonic districts co-ordinate with the German, 
amply proves with what intolerance the German 
people regards the Slavonic race and to Avhat 
shameful tactics they will resort to keep them in 
subjugation. 



III. 

Poles in America. | 

Jn view of the merciless persecution of the Polish 
people under the rule of their despoilers, it is not 
strange that they should emigrate in such large num- 
bers to the land of freedom, for which their compa- 
triots, Kosciusko and Pulaski, fought and bled during 
the American revolution, in order that they might 
enjoy those advantages, economical and political, 
which are unjustly denied to them at home. It is 
true that among them a certain percentage of illiter- 
atnres may be found, though the number is by no 
means as great as claimed by the Honorable Senator 
from Massachusetts in his report to the >Senate. 
Illiteracy, though greatly to be deplored, is not 
per se a crime. We must further respectfully insist 
that the figures cited by the Hod. Caleb Lodge in his 
report on the Immigration question ai'e not, so far as 
they relate, to the Polish people, reliable. The 
sources from which they have been obtained are not 
the most trustworthy. Under the heading of Poles, 
are included other elements with which the Polish 
people have nothing in common. 

Experience in this country soon leaches the 
illiterate the advantages of education, and self- 
interest will dictate to him the necessity of learning 
to read and write. 



A visit to the homes of the Polish people in this 
country will convince the impartial observer that they 
are cleanly, orderly and law-abiding people. They 
have established at great expense numerous schools 
in which the English language is taught. They have 
founded libraries and heartily support their own 
press as well as papers published in the English 
lano;nao-e. 

Owing to their thrifty and industrious habits 
they soon become property owners and cheerfully 
contribute their share of taxes ft^r the support of the 
government. Socialistic and anarchistic doctrines 
never receive any encouragement from them. For 
this country and its institution they entertain the 
profoundest respect. 

The limited time at our disposal did not enable 
us to gather complete statistics in order to refute 
the figures quoted by the Honorable Senator from 
Massachusetts. We have, however, been able to 
secure a large number of commendatory testimonials 
from officials who by reason of their position come 
most closely in contact with the people and are 
best qualified to judge their character. The officials 
we refer to are the mayors and police officials of 
large cities. 

Of the large number received, we will subjoin 
only the following extracts from letters sent to Mr. 
F. H. Jablonski, President of the Polish National 



--28—, 

Alliance of tlie United States of Nortli America and 
cliairman of the Joint Committee for drafting thit 
memorial: 

Detkoit. Jan. 24, 1898. — The Polish citizens of Detroit aiv 
probaljiv more iiuineronsto the popuhition of the city than in an\ 
other cit\' in the tnitcd States. One section in our city is iii- 
hal)ite(l exelusivelv l)\' Polisli families. 

it must he conceded that takino- into consideration their 
condition as ver\' recent immigrants to this country, poor, un- 
skilled and io'Uorant of the ways of our people tluM' are advanc- 
ing ver^■ rapidlw We have alr.-adv in oui- community Poles 
whose nati\(' al)ilit\' hrought them to a hioh plane in business 
lines aikl it must he said that their record for peacefulness and 
good citizenship is aboNC repi'oac-h. It is oratifying for me to 
sav'that there is no Pole in this cit^■. however old. sickly or 
dependent, who does not prefei' to earn his bread by honest 
labor. Conditions of the times in Detroit, as 1 suppose else- 
\vhere. Inn c l)rought thousands of families to a state of pri- 
vation. Wii,i,ia:\i (\ Maykury. Mayor. 



Mamsikk. M kh.. Jax. '24. bSUN. — We have a Polish popu- 
lation in this county of over 5000 souls. The^■ are within the 
city limits o\er (500 Polish school children between the ages of 
5 to 1(1 years. The total numl)er of ai-rests in this (Manistee) 
county was 288 fof 1897. Tlie total population of the county is 
about 30.000. We think that there are l)ut few counties of like 
population that can show such record for peace and good order. 
I do not think that the num.ber of Polish people arrested is equal 
to their proportion, and as a rule those of that nationalit\' arrest- 
ed are charged with misdemeanors and minor offenses. It has 
been stated by some whe are prejudiced, politically or otherwise, 
that Polish people furnish more than their (juota of arrests, but 
records do not show this, but i)rove the contrary'. 



—29— 

Personally I have found our Polish citizens to be peaceable 
and law-abidino- people, frugal and idustrious and progressive. 
A great many of them own their homes and some have acquired 
considerable other property. Quite a number have purchased 
farm lands in this vicinity and are developing the country and 
prospering personally. There are of course some exceptions to 
the general rule, but the exceptions are no more numerous com- 
paratively with them than with Americans or any other nation- 
ality. 

I have always maintained that Polish people by reason of 
their past history and their being at present practically without 
a nation are especially and peculiarly adapted to our institutions 
and so to become loyal, patriotic and intelligent American citi- 
zens without any other national attachments to divide their 
patriotic zeal. Tiios. Smuarthwaite, Mayor. 

Milwaukee, Jan. 25, 1898. — The Polish-Americans in this 
city are very industrious and have a fair reputation. 

F. Barixger. Secretary . 



Toledo. O.. Jan. 25, 1898. — We have very little ])ot]ier 
with Polish-American residents of this city. they, quarrel among 
themselves, mostly church troubles but are very peaceful with 
other citizens. Total number of arrests for 1897 are 4673, out 
of which 100 to 150 would be fair average for the Polish people. 

C. H. DuRiAX, Sec'y of Police. 



New York. Jan. 2i). 1898. — In reply to your request to be 
informed as to the reputation of the Polish people of this city for 
peacefulness, industry and intergrity. it is my personal opinion 
that they possess all these traits and are a very desirable class of 
immigrants. John J. Nagle, M. D. 

Chief of the Bureau of Municipal Statistics 



---30— 
From the metropolis of tlie State in which the 
Honorable Senator from Massachusetts discovered, 
according to his Senate report, such a astonishingly- 
large and alarming proportion of criminals among 
the Polish people we received the following letters: 

Boston, Jan. 25, 1898. — I am directed by His Honor, 
Mayor Quincy, to acknowledoe the receipt of yours of the 
25th with reference to the character of the Polish-American re- 
sidents in our community. I am pleased to say that thouo^h we 
have a fairh' laro-e number of Poles in our community their de- 
meanor is so exemplary that it rarely happens that any one is 
before our police court even on a trivial charo-e. We have a 
Polish Ivoman Catholic church in the district of our city called 
South Boston, and we find the communicants exemplary in every 
way. I think I may say that it is the opinion of the citizens of 
Boston that the Poles, far from being a detriment, are a posi- 
tive addition to our community in the direction of morality and 
good citizenship. Thos. A. Mullen. Secretary. 



Boston, Jan. 28, 1898. — We have mailed you a copy of 
the annual report of the Board of Police for the citA' of Boston 
for the year of 1897. On page 30, you will find from the statistics 
that the number of arrests of Polish-American residents is small 
as compared with the other. 

The captain of one of our police districts in which the 
largest number of arrests is made each year states that the num- 
ber of arrests of the Polish-Americans is smaller in proportion 
to the number of residents than that of some of the other nation- 
alities. He also states that their reputation for peacefulness and 
industry is very fair, and that many of them are very good farm 
liands. A. P. Martin, 

Chairnmn of Board of Police. 



..—SI— 

Omaha. Fki?. 4. 1898. — - Replying to jour communication 
of recent date askino- for a statement of the reputation for peace- 
fulness, industry and intergrit}' which the Polish American resi- 
dents bear in our community, I would say that we regard our 
Polish -American population very highly for the various qualities 
you have mentioned. They are peaceful, law-abiding citizens 
and there is no class of workmen in this city who bear a better 
reputation for industry than do they. They are honest and trust- 
worthy and have the confidence of the community. 

Frank E. Moores, Mayor. 



His Excellency H. S. Pingree, Governor of Mi- 
cliioan forwarded the followino;: 

LANSiN(i, Feb. 8. 1898. — The Polish people of Detroit have 
always been very peaceable citizens and are one of the most in- 
dustrious classes of foreigners that come to our cities. They are 
always glad to work and are not usually particular as to the 
kind of work, as long as they can earn an honest dollar. When 
one takes into consideration the training which they have had in 
their own country I think they are a very good people and en- 
titled to a oreat deal of credit. I mioht say also that I have a 
great expectations from the Poles, that is from the next genera- 
tion, as almost an}' other class of people we have here. They 
have a very strong physi(pie. fitting them for all kinds labor and 
they are very quick and willing to learn. 

H. S. PixGREE, Governor. 



Buffalo, jA>f. 24, 1898. — In reply to your communication 
of January 21, in which you request a brief statement as to the 
reputation for peacefulness, industry and intergrity that the 
Polish-American residence bear in this community. 1 take 
pleasure in saying that the general reputation of the class of 
citizens refered to and in the respect indicated in your note, is 
subject of constant and favf)rable comment. The Polish-American 



population of Buffalo s very laroc and has for years been nota- 
ble for industrN'. thrieft and iiood citizenship. 

CoXHAD DiEHL. Mayor. 



Chicago. Fkb. 3rd. 1898. — In response to your request for 
an expression of opinion from me as to the character and stand- 
ing of the Polish population of Chicago, it gives me great 
pleasure to bear testimony to the fact, that the Polish residents 
of this city are. on the whole, among the most industrious and 
reputable of our citizens. They are law-abiding and industrious, 
and deserve great credit for the manly manner in which on their 
arrival in this country, they struggle against and overcome, the 
difficulties that confront them. 

Caktkh H. Hakkison. Ma\()r. 

P. S. 1 am informed that the Pt)lish population of Cook 
County is oyer 175. OUU. 



At some future day this committee expects to 
famish to the Congress and the American Public 
reliable statistics of tlie real status of the Polish 
people in America. Suffice it for the present to 
say that viewing the subject from either a moral, 
economical or political standpoint, we fail to perceive 
the necessity for the enactment of the proposed 
immio-ration bill. The wonderful resources of this 
country have not been fully developed, and it cer- 
tainly cannot be contended that the late industrial 
stagnation and financial depression was do to an 
overcrowded labor market. 

Finnally we respectfully submit that while tlie 
Polish people are oppressed in their native land and 
are denied the privilage of learning to read and 



^33— 
write ill their native tongue the same consideration 
should be shown to them as is shown by this bill to 
the unfortunate Cubans struggling for liberty and 
the semi-civilized Hawaians. 

Appealing to the exalted sense of justice and 
huraanity of tlie members of Congress and the Ame- 
rican Public in general, we, representatives of all 
the large Polish-American organizations of the 
United States respectfully ask that the Lodge Immi- 
gration bill be not adopted. 

Respectfully Submitted, 



THE JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: 



F. H. jal)lonski, President, 

Rev. E. Sedlaczek, Vice President, 

Leon Szopinski, Secretary, 

565 Noble st, Chicago, Ills. 

Michael Majewski, Treasurer, 
Liician Horbaczewski, 
Joseph Polczynski, 
M. J. Sadowski, 
Max A. Drezmal, 
Stephen R. Barszczewski, 



\ 



\ 
\ 



1- Directon 



—34— 
POLISH NATL ALLIANCH of the U. S. ofX. A. 

Office: 102-104 W. Division st., Chicago. 

Theo. M. Helinski, Censor, 

j. Czernik, Vice Censor 

F. H. Jablonski, President, 

Jos. Polczynski, \'ice President, 

M. J. Sadowski, Gen'l Secretary, 

M. Majewski, Treasurer, 

Jos. Blaszka, ] 

M. Rzeszotarski, 

1. Mroz, 

F. X.Kucharzewski, J 

S. R. Barszczewski, Editor. 

POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC UXIOX oi America. 

Office: 519 Noble st, Chicago. 

P. Kiolbassa, Honorary President, 
John Jachimowicz, President, 
Theo. Ostrowski, Vice President, 
John Manna, Gen'l Secretary, 
Albert Jendrzejek, Treasurer, 

Rev. P. GutoWSki, ) Spiritual 
Rev. V. Barzynski, \ Directors, 

M.P. Kossakowski, M. I). High Medical Lx. 

Rev. Eug. Sedlaczek, ] 

F. Czerwinski, j 

Thaddeus Klein, |- Directors. ^^ 

Albert AVachowski, | ' 

Leon Szopinski, | 



—35— 

SECOND POLISH MILITARY CORPS of America, 
Military Board. 
Si^^ismund Schmidt Captain, 
Michael Hazinski, Lieutenant, 
Michael Malinowski, Adjutant, 
Civil Board: 
Anton Gorecki, President, 
M. Malinowski, Gen'l Secy. 
J. F. Jackowski, Treasurer. 
Fr. Lewandowski, \ 
Joseph Walkowiak, - Directors. 
Fr. Jozwiak, ) 

THE POLISH ASSOCIATION of America. 
Stephen Czaplewski, President. 
E. Czarnecki, Vice-President. 
Ignatius Gorski, Gen'l Secretary. 
Michael Salati, Treasurer. 
John Weiher, \ 
Anton Hudzinski, !- Directors. 
Ernest Krenz, ) 
Very Rev. H. Gulski. Spiritual Director. 

POLISH TURNERS' ALLIANCE of America. 
K. Zychlinski, President, 
A. Bielinski, First Vice President, 
\ W. Statkiewicz, Second Vice President, 

A. Blaszczynski, Treasurer. 



'-36—. 
POLISH ALLIANCE of State of Ohio. 

General Office: 301 Fleet st. Cleveland, O, i 

T. Olsztynski, President. 
L. Koperski, Vice-President. 
J. Deranek, Treasurer. 
T. Riitkowski, Gen'l Secretary. 
J. Szczutkowski, j 
J.Ziolkowski, - Directors. 
L Blazejczyk, ) 



UMTLl) POLISH SINGERS of America. 

C. Dtizewski, President, 

Ion. Mroz, Vice Presideiit,, 

Albin Rosinski, Recordino- Secretary, 

Michael Nowakowski, Financial Sec'y, 

A. Urbanski, Treasurer, 

W. Perlowskj, Librarian, 

John N, Nowicki, Musical Director. 

POLISH YOUNG MEN'S ALLIANCE of America^ 

Fr. P. Danisch, President. 
Stephen K. Sass, Vice-President. 
John M. Sienkiewicz, Commissariiis. 
Fr. T. Wolowski, Secretary. 
John S. Zawilinski, Treasurer. 



and 






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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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